Throttle-valve lock for motor vehicles



- L. E. BIGELOW. THROTTLE VALVE LOCK FOR MOTOR VEHICLES.

APPLICATION FILED DEC. 15, 1919.

Patented Jan. 10, 1922;

run...

Cir

LEROY E. BIGELOW, OF MEDFORD, OREGON.

THROTTLE-VALVE LOCK FOR MOTOR VEHICLES.

incense,

Specification of Letters iatent.

Patented Jan. 11

To all u /mm it may concern:

lie it known that I, LEROY E. BJLGELOW, citizen of the United States,residing at liledford, in the county of Jackson and State of Oregon,have invented certain new and useful improvements in Throttle-ValveLooks for Motor Vehicles, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to an improved throttle valve lock, beingparticularly designed tor use in connection with the throttle valves ofmotor vehicles although, as will later appear, the device may beotherwise employed, and has as one of its principal objects to provide asimple and efiicient device of this character which will effectuallyprevent the unauthorized use of the vehicle.

The invention. has a further object to provide a device adapted to beinterposed between an engine carburetor and intake manifold and whichmay be readily operated to block movement of the throttle valve of thecarburetor.

And the invention has a still further object to provide a device whichmay be readil v employed in connection with substantially anyconventional type of internal combustion engine. 7

)ther and incidental, objects will appear hereinafter.

in the drawings:

Figure 1 is a side elevation showing my improved device mounted betweenthe carhurcter and intake manifold of a motor vehi clc engine, theengine not being illustrated,

.lfigure-Q is a fragmentary section taken centrally through the device,

Figure 3 is front elevation illustrating the device detached, and

Figure 1 is a detail perspective view particularly illustrating thevalve blocking .icchauism of the device.

In order to facilitate an accurate understanding of the construction,manner of use and operation of my improved device. I have. in thedrawings. shown the invention in connection with a carbureter and intake manifold 11 of a conventional type of motor vehicle engine. theengine not being ihustratcd since it forms no part of the presentinvention. As is usual, the carbureter is provided with a dischargeoutlet 12 the flange 13 of which normally mates with and is securedagainst the flange 14 of the manifold. Mounted within the outlet 12 i athrottle valve 15 of the butterfly type. This valve is carried by a stem16 journaled through the outlet and connected to one end of said stem isa throttle valve lever 17, this lever being operable for controlling thevalve and thus, in turn, controlling the operation of the engine.

in carrying the invention into efi'ect, I employ a body block 18 shapedto fit between the flanges 13 and 1 1 of the carbureter and intakemanifold respectively, mating therewith. Securing said block in positionand connecting the carburetor with the manifold are bolts or othersuitable fastening devices 19 extending through said flanges and theblock. The block may be formed of metal, fiber or any other approvedmaterial and centrally is provided with a passage 20 therethroughregistering with the passages of the manifold 11 and outlet 12.Journaled through the body block is a transversely extending shaft 21extending across the upper side of the passage 20. At one end the shaftis provided with a socket 22 and surrounding the adjacent end portion ofthe shaft is a boss 23 extending laterally from the body block. Suitablyfixed to the shaft within the passage 20 is a locking member or arm 24:and arranged to coact with this arm is a resilient retaining catch 25therefor. As particularly shown in Figures 2 and 3, this catch issubstantially U- shaped and is secured within the passage 20 at itsupper side by a screw or other suitable fastening device, the springarms of the catch being adapted to frictionally receive and hold the armtherebetween. For rotating the shaft 21, a key 26 is employed, this keybeing provided with an elongated shank freely insertable in the boss 23to engage at its inner end in the socket 22 of said shaft.

is will be readily appreciated in view of the preceding description, byengaging the key 26 in the socket 22, the shaft 21 may be rotated toswing the arm 24: rearwardly to active position, projecting, asparticularly shown in Figure 2, toward the valve 15 to engage at itsfree end with the upper side aortion of the valve. Movement of the valvewill thus be blocked so that upon removal of the key 26, the valve willbe securely locked against operation. Unauthorized use of the vehicleequipped with the device will consequently be effectually obviated. Forfreeing the valve 15, it is simply necessary to for use generally, inconnection with again engage the key in the socket 522 andcounter-rotate the shaft 21 until the arm 24 is swung forwardly tohorizontal inactive position engaged between the spring arms of thecatch 25. The catch will then support the arm and prevent accidentalrelease thereof to possibly interfere with the moiemen of the throttlevalve. It will accordingly be seen that I provide a highly effectiveconstruction for the purpose set forth and a device which may be readilyapplied to sub stantially any conventional type of motor vehicle engine.lilowever, I do not wish to be limited in this regard since, as will nowbe appreciated, the device is well adapted internal combustion enginesfor locking the throttle valvesthereo-f and I, therefore, reserve theright to all such adaptations of the in vent-ion as may fall within thespirit of the appended claims.

Having thusdescribed the invention, what is claimed'as new is:

1. A throttle valve lock including a body provided with a fuel passage,a shaft journaled in the body, locking means carried by said shaft andmovable to active position for blocking movement of a throttle valve,and means carried by the body to coact with the first means for normallyholding the first means in inactive position. 7

2. A throttle valve lock including a body provided with a fuelcpassage,a shaft, journaled upon the body, a locking arm carried by said shaftand movable to active position for blocking movement of a. throttlevalve, and a spring catch carried by the body to coact with said arm.fornormally holding the arm in inactive position.

12k valve locking unit for interposition between a carbureter andmanifold includ ing a body block having a fuelpassage therethrongh, anda shaft journaled upon the block to intersect said passage and providedwith means movable within the passage to project beyond one side face ofthe block into the path of the throttle valve of the carburetor forengagement by said valve whereby to block the rotative movement of thevalve.

l. The combination with a carburetor having a rotatable'throttlevalve,and a manifold,of a block interposed between the carbnreter and,manifold nd having a fuel passage therethrough, and a shaft journa'ledupon the hlock'to intersect said passage and provided with an armmovable within said passage to a position projecting beyond one sideface of the block in front of the valve for blocking the rotativemovement thereof.

5. A throttle valve lock including body having a fuel passagetherethrough, a shaft journaled on the body and provided with an armmovable to active position for blocking movement of a valve, and asubstantially U-shaped catch having coacting resilient fingers adaptedto grip the arm therebetween for holding the arm in inactive position.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature.

' LEROX E; BIGELOVV. [L. s]

